5-car crash on Howard Frankland Bridge causes delays

St. Petersburg, Florida -- A five-car pileup in the northbound lanes heading into Tampa caused a big backup on the Howard Frankland Bridge during rush hour Tuesday evening.

The Florida Highway Patrol says around 5 p.m., Richard Hayes was driving a Ford Escape north on the bridge in the outside center lane when he failed to notice traffic stopped in front of him. In order to avoid a collision, he veered left into the inside center lane and hit left back side of a Chevy Tahoe.

Hayes' Escape continued into the lane and hit a semi tractor trailer heading north. During impact, the Escape flipped multiple times and while overturning hit a Ford F-150 that was in front of the Tahoe.

As the semi truck entered the inside lane, when the driver tried to avoid colliding with the Escape, it hit the right side of another Ford F-150 pulling a small utility trailer. That Ford F-150 became jackknifed due to the collision and came to a rest facing south in the northbound center lane.

FHP says charges are pending for Hayes. The injuries of those involved are not known at this time.

Three northbound lanes were closed for about two hours and a half hours while crews cleaned up the crash. All lanes were reopened at 7:30 p.m.